Does anyone fancy a "puppy survival" thread part 2

[Soubriquet]

Here we are again

Just jump in and join us

Skeleton that's good news.
Bitey I hope that paw is ok.

Tonight giant pup sat on my knee, actually dragging me off the sofa! She then decided to start nibbling (like grooming) my foot. Leg was trapped under her. Rather inelegant.

Interesting socialisation today. These two have gradually got closer and closer over recent weeks. Missed the bit where they were nuzzling each other's ears. (Too busy holding on tight in case pony decided to bite or pup startled her!)

Help, I'm bitten to buggery by our new (10 days with us) WHV pup. She's 11 weeks old and it bloody hurts. She won't let go sometimes and nothing seems to be working once she has the devil in her. Is it just her age? I'm on constant high alert in case she gets one of the kids (they aren't left alone but I literally need to be between them if they are in the same room). I'm finding it very stressful. I've tried yelping, turning my back (she just goes back to doing what she should be doing, like biting the furniture) saying nothing at all, rattling a noisy coin filled bottle (she bit it).... she is cute but I'm struggling!

Don't yelp. It excites them. Ignoring or making a scary noise won't work. Puppies bite. They just do.
You need to direct the biting. Long tug toy (not for my giant though) nylabone, stuffed Kong or frozen carrot!
Another trick I was told. Get bloody great stuffed toys. One in each room pup is allowed in. Preferably blue or yellow as dogs see these colours (charity shop?!) Toys must be in your reach but up high away from puppy. When pup bites. Wave the toy in front of them in figure of eight at floor height and toss it away. Let pup savage toy. When savaging ends retrieve toy and put it up high. Toy is only for savaging'
Also chant "this too shall pass". And there's always

Isn't wine bad for dogs? 😂 Thabk you for your reply. I did find today that her big squishy dog bed blanket worked well to redirect with and it was big enough to not get me nibbled in the process. She gets to a point where she doesn't want to get off (my skirt for example, or my thumb earlier today) and gets a bit growly. Is that just normal too or does she in fact want to eat me a didgit at a time...which is kind of how it feels at the moment.

*Digit sorry, hard to type with only three fingers left.

I jest but today was a tough day.

This is a really good guide to dealing with puppy biting.

It's totally normal for puppies to be horrendous little land sharks, it's just what they do at that age. Making sure they've got plenty of appropriate stuff they are allowed to chew and redirecting play biting onto toys really does help.

The growling is totally normal as well, it's just play.

They can growl in play. Mine growled in her sleep last night. Never heard the noise before. Most alarming!
Wine is very good for puppies if it reduces our inclination to strangle the Bitey little fuckers!
When giant pup went through this stage I had to basically isolate her for the safety of all concerned. I had holes in all my clothes. And yes. Some of my body parts.
Substitute you for something else. Toss the nylabone or roll the kong or dangle the tug toy or wave the soft toy.
I remember this stage all too well. And no. Not with fondness!

Little bitey bugger! Good job they're cute!

Thank you both. Will look at tomorrow afresh and be armed with soft toys and wine. My bitey fucker...

Our poor boy spent the whole night limping

Haven't had much sleep worrying about him. He seems ok this morning but he has a funny walk sometimes so watching him like a hawk.

[waves at dog walker as totally outed myself weeks ago if you are on here ]. Trying to decide whether to let him go to day care with no exercise or stay at home with him in case it starts again and we need the vets.

Oh no he's started limping again. My poor boy. I would rather I was in pain than him. Phoning vets as soon as they open

Poor biteypup, hope vet soon sorts him out. My last dog got a grass seed stuck up between his pads which caused him to limp. Am actually amazed we haven't needed vet yet, Cocopup is a bit kamikase on walks😏 Good luck bitey

Thanks Cocobananas. I have checked his paw as best I can but can't see anything. Really hoping it is something like that rather than shoulder/leg injury .

Really hoping it's a scratch or something stuck in there. Any heat? Will he let you run your hand over his shoulder and leg? Any sign of swelling or pain?
Hoping he is ok. Poor baby.
And font? No bitey fucker there. Just a tiny cute baby!

I bought many chew toys yesterday so we can put them on rotation, some are in the freezer. As soon as I showed them to Daniel he turned his nose up and didn't bite at all last night - go figure!

He made me chuckle last night, fast asleep on my lap - I put him out for his last wee around 1030, he just curled up on the grass to sleep. Took about 15 minutes to wake him up enough to wee, before popping him in his crate. He woke at 620 - yay!!!

BiteyShark I do hope Puppy is ok, nothing worse than seeing them in pain. Is it possible the pavement was too hot and burnt his paw? So difficult when it happens at daycare and you have to trust them to report issues accurately for you to help the vet find the injury quicker.
Fingers crossed the vet squares him up

Totally outs myself to the world :)

We got seen straight away and it's just a toe nail fracture. He runs around like a loon both we me and with the dog walker so would not have been at all surprised if it hadn't been more serious as he never stops running on walks. Just texted dog walker as I know she was really worried but these things happen to us all.

Toe nail has been cut right back to help it heal and he has to rest for a couple of days but thank god he hadn't injured his leg or shoulder.

Fantastic news Bitey - still not nice but at least it isn't muscle related. Do puppies understand a few days rest though?!

AmIAWeed that bit I am not sure about. I suspect we may have a very bouncy frustrated dog over the next couple of days

Mind games (have a Google) and training. Play hunt the treat etc.
I'm so glad it's just something straight forward (if ouchy) that will heal fine. I am going to be a mess the first time girl pup goes to the vet for anything other than routine. When went to pick her up she made a noise and I panicked thinking she was going to vomit and was sick (there had been an issue the night before with a pup with a dodgy tum!). She had hiccups.
Heal soon Bitey pup!

Thanks Wolfiefan. I am so glad DDog is over friendly in situations like today because despite the vets really pulling and pushing his leg and shoulder to make sure there was nothing more serious he happily wags his tail trying to kiss the vet

He is the only dog I know who runs in wildly excited to be at the vets

Nope giant girl loves vets. She has been there for a puppy party and we go monthly to weigh (so we get the right amount of flea stuff) and she gets treats and a fuss. It is important she likes it there. Can't drag a reluctant adult wolfie into the vets!

Ha! yes there is NO way you could drag your pup anywhere she didn't want to go

Love that your girl is getting friendly with a pony Wolfiefan. She realises that she needs friends closer to her size grin]

A couple of tips for puppy people. Firstly, daycare for me has been a life saver. I get a break and a tired puppy and Bluepuppy gets to have fun and social and socialise. Secondly, try not to get a puppy coming into winter. For so many reasons. One I learnt tonight is that coat shopping for a puppy isn't fun. I know he'll grow out of his coat very quickly and he is also determined to undo coats as soon as I put them on. Finally if you've got a bit of the puppy blues everything seems worse when it's dark and three degrees in the morning.